FOOD LOVERS

With so many choices, how can you not think about your next meal? So whatever you decide to bring with you to Chicago, make sure an appetite is first on the list. Chicago is one of the world’s culinary epicenters — thanks to award-winning fine dining establishments, family-friendly eats and locales serving up everything from tasty cheap eats to avant-garde cuisine.

Celebrity Chefs

Book a reservation at one of Chicago’s top chef restaurants for the most memorable of dining experiences. Or book a few. Your whole trip to Chicago could be one culinary adventure. Here you’ll find culinary masterpieces by Bravo’s Top Chefs Stephanie Izard of Girl and the Goat and Rick Bayless of Topolobampo and Frontera Grill. In addition, Oprah’s former personal chef Art Smith of Table Fifty-Two and Grant Achatz of the nation’s #1 restaurant Alinea also call Chicago home.

Chicago-style Hot Dog

Asking for ketchup on your hot dog is like wearing a cheese head to a Bears game — you just don’t do it. Chicagoans are all about tradition and toppings. Served on a poppy seed bun, the “Chicago Dog” is topped with yellow mustard, chopped white onions, neon-green sweet pickle relish, a dill pickle spear, tomato wedges, hot peppers and a dash of celery salt. Assemble one yourself at a baseball game or head to classic faves like Portillo’s, Superdawg and The Weiner Circle, or inventive spots like Franks 'n Dawgs which touts their creative spinoffs as "five star dining on a bun."

Diverse Ethnic Restaurants

The city owes its outstanding dining scene to its melting pot of peoples — spread across 77 ethnically diverse neighborhoods welcoming visitors with an array of international aromas. Greektown, Chinatown, Little Italy and Pilsen, Chicago’s Mexican American community, are just a sampling of our flavorful neighborhoods. You’ll also find ethnic inspired restaurants flourishing downtown. From French and Polish to Japanese and Middle Eastern, Chicago’s ethnic food options run the gamut. Let your taste buds be your guide.